Goulburn's Tony and Adriana Lamarra change course

She remembers exactly where ‘that item’ is and the person who wants it. The aim is to please and shifting around furniture to find it is no bother.

Adriana and Tony Lamarra’s routine at their Verner Street second hand furniture and collectables store will end on Friday. After 44 and a half years they’re shutting the premises, which is also a hub for all-comers, dropping in for a chinwag  and a ‘cuppa.’ 

Mrs Lamarra becomes emotional talking about the work that’s also her passion.

“Never in all those 44 years have I never wanted to open the doors. The highlights are every day; I love coming to work,” she said.

“I love meeting people but also selling something to someone who’s looking for something in particular. I can honestly say that presenting articles that are clean and in good order to people and having them say, ‘that’s just what I’m looking for,’ is the greatest pleasure I’ve got over the years.”

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The Lamarras are selling their Verner Street store

Customers have become good friends over the years for the couple with a civic bent. Mr Lamarra was Mayor of Goulburn City Council from 1985 to 1991, after being elected a councillor in 1974. He spent a total 26 years on the council, including its successor, Goulburn Mulwaree. 

“Tourism was one of my main goals on council and in starting the shop,” he said.

“I started the tourism centre with Bob Lockley and a few others and we still like to keep our hand in...People come in here and discuss Goulburn, charities sell their cakes through us and we book day bus trips for one of the clubs. It keeps us in touch with everyone.”

Both came to Australia separately in the 1950s and met in Wollongong before falling in love and starting their married life in Goulburn in the mid 1960s. Mr Lamarra started in hospitality, running the Saint Marco Coffee Lounge on the corner of Auburn and Clifford Streets with his brother. Strategically located near three theatres, the cafe “packed them in,” many sampling the delights of Goulburn’s first coffee machine and the famous ‘Tony’s big burger.’

“We treated them well and like family and that’s always stayed the same,” he said.

It was Eric Hunt that encouraged his interest in the second-hand furniture game. Mr Hunt ran a similar store in Auburn Street and used to give his friend tips. The Lamarras started off in a Clifford Street premises in 1973 before moving to Verner Street.

Later, on the council, he left the business operation mainly to his wife.

“I never had any worries about leaving the shop because Adriana was here and I could do things for the city. We work as a team,” he said.

Mrs Lamarra describes herself as a follower and her husband the one who makes “the big decisions.”

“I didn’t mind. The shop was more me. I’ve always loved it and we reared our children and grandchildren here. We’ve done it together,” she said.

A recent trip to Italy convinced them that it was time to slow down, slightly, and turn attention to other things.

Four years ago the couple bought the former Sirdar factory in Ross Street, Bradfordville and Mr Lamarra has been assiduously cleaning it up and transforming the 7500 square metre space into a second-hand store.

“We want to give better service to our customers. People call it the second-hand Bunnings,” Mr Lamarra quipped.

“...It’s a huge place, a beautiful building and we’ve done a lot of work on it but there’s still a lot to be done.”

The Verner Street trading licence will be transferred to the building. Meantime, the Verner Street premises remains for sale or lease.

Over coming months it will be cleared of its contents, including the little tea room and dining table set to welcome customers.

Mr Lamarra said he’d missed the premises but was looking forward to the next challenge.

“People who have patronised us are part of the family. We respect that because without them we wouldn’t have a business,” he said.

But come Monday, they don’t expect to be sleeping in.

“Retirement to us is just a word,” Mrs Lamarra said.

“I come to work because it makes me happy. If we can get up and enjoy our work each day, it keeps us going.”